Man claims $2.3 million from Mega-Millions ticket purchased in Inland Empire

A California man has claimed more than $2 million after matching all five numbers, just missing the Mega number, in a September drawing, Lottery officials announced Thursday.

Jose Hernandez Guerra picked up his ticket worth a total of $2.3 million from the ARCO in Riverside County’s Cathedral City ahead of the Sept. 6 draw, the California Lottery stated in a news release.

“Luckily for Mr. Hernandez Guerra, California is unique among its partner states for both Mega Millions and Powerball® in that all prize levels are pari-mutuel,” the release stated.

That meant Guerra’s payout was “split among the number of players who win in the same way” instead of fixed, which would have limited him in any other state to a $1 million second-place prize.

Lottery officials also mentioned other notable California Scratchers winners who already took home at least $1 million this year.

• Oscar Gonazales Huinac claimed a $5.8 million win from a 200X Scratchers picked up from Tomato Market in Inglewood.
• Renato Escudero spelled out an instant $2 million on the Instant Prize Crossword Scratchers game from the ARCO at 1260 Park Street in Alameda.
• Oscar Nieto Capistran received a $1 million prize with a $100 Million Mega Cash Scratchers from the 7-Eleven at 2150 Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa.
• Floriano Cruz Mayo also won a $1 million prize playing Red Hot Cash purchased at JK Smoke Shop in Buena Park.

“All told these five fortunate players together claimed over $12 million in prizes to kick off 2025, all in support of California public education,” the news release stated.